Hunter Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997
Contact us
Hunter OEM Parts
General Marine Parts
 
 

Review of the Hunter 38 by John Marty

Year built 2005  
Location of boat Sydney Australia  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Day sailing  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2005  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes  
Gear that's been added Raymarine wind,depth,speed, ST6001 autopilot, Garmin GPSMap 276c plotter, Bose DVD stereo, tv, cockpit cd radio & lights, dodger, bimini, fridge, freezer, icom 402 vhf with external mike in cockpit, Ray 101 handheld vhf, Autostream feathering 3 blade prop, 40hp Yanmar, 2x 200ah agm batteries, inner spring mattress in main cabin, folding Lewmar wheel, electric halyard winch, electric windlass, 20kg cqr anchor with 50m 10mm chain plus rode. Deep keel.  
Structural or complex improvements Furlboom mainsail furler  
The boat's best features Speed under sail, hard to round up in the gusts , great accommodation, particularly rear cabin, huge comfortable cockpit  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. As discussed by others the pooling of water along the gunwhale on each side is very annoying, clips holding the cockpit table in position break nearly every time the table is used, long flat bilge is impossible to drain using bilge pump, the convoluted path from the head to holding tank requires lots of pumping through and consequently holding tank fills very quickly  
Sailing characterisitcs Very easy to reach hull speed upwind. Surprisingly fast downwind. I had read complaints that because the rig has swept back spreaders you sacrificed speed downwind but I have found the boat very quick on a broad reach. I have come out of cat sailing so I hate sailing dead downwind anyway.  
Motoring characterisitcs The 40hp Yanmar/autostream prop pushes the boat very easily. In reverse I still find quite a bit of prop walk although on my previous boat I found the prop helped lots. The boat is quiet under motor EXCEPT for the very noisy blower with its outlet in the cockpit. This I find very annoying  
Liveability Have done few nights so far but I am hoping it will be good as I am planning 3-4 months away cruising the Whitsunday islands in a few weeks time. This in fact is why we upgraded from our Beneteau 361 to the H38. I love the dodger/bimini  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any US Yachts in Sydney have been very good to deal with.  
Other comments  

Contact
About
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Limited Liability
Advertise Here
Copyright 1997-2024 SB Owners, LLC
All rights reserved.

Other Sailboat Owners web sites:
CatalinaOwners.com | HunterOwners.com | MacgregorOwners.com | OdayOwners.com | SailboatOwners.com | 10,000 Boat Names |